A-Z Indexes

Food

Health Guides

Health News

Clindamycin-Tretinoin

Pronounced

"klin-da-MYE-sin/TREt-i-noyn"

Common brand names:

Biacna

Uses

This combination medication is used to treat acne. It helps decrease the number and severity of acne pimples and helps pimples that do develop to heal more quickly. Tretinoin belongs to a class of medications called retinoids. It works by affecting the growth of skin cells. Clindamycin is an antibiotic that stops the growth of bacteria that cause acne.

How to Use This Medication

Read the Patient Information Leaflet if available from your pharmacist before you start using this product and each time you get a refill. If you have any questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Wash your hands before applying this medication. Gently clean the affected skin with a mild/soapless cleanser and pat dry. Use your fingertips to apply a small amount of medication (about the size of a pea) in a thin layer over the face as directed by your doctor, usually once daily at bedtime. Be careful to avoid the eyes and lip area.

Use this medication on the skin only. Do not apply to the inner lip area or inside the nose/mouth. Do not apply to cut, scraped, sunburned, or eczema-affected skin.

Avoid getting this medication in your eyes. If this occurs, flush with large amounts of water. Call your doctor if eye irritation develops. Wash your hands after using the medication to avoid accidentally getting it in your eyes.

During the first few weeks of using this product, your acne might appear worse because the medication is working on pimples forming inside the skin. It may take several weeks to notice results from this medication.

Use it regularly in order to get the most benefit from it. To help you remember, use it at the same time each day. Do not use a larger amount or use it more often than recommended. Your skin will not improve any faster, but your risk of redness, peeling, and pain will increase.

Tell your doctor if your condition lasts or gets worse.